May 16, 2010

Well, never mind then. Tom and Nancy came back early, we didn't get back to town until late late, and Lone Bob threw me a bone here. Thanks Bob. I really do get to the falls. Some days, I even have a picnic while I'm waiting.

According to Tom, it was 48 degrees at the start. Near as I've been able to tell, present were: Bob, Tom, Nancy, John, Kira, Bill, and? Well, now you get yet another chance to be heard. Just chime in with a comment on this blog. Tell us what/who you saw!

Wrote Lone Bob:

If last Sunday was Mothers Day then this Sunday was “invasion of the Abalone snatchers” day. Travelers having to use the Coast Highway would soon discover a highway with shoulders draped and clogged with snatcher vehicles. Not surprising because the ocean conditions and weather were perfect for divers. And as it most often is the temperature was also perfect for runners but not so for sunbathers.

What was the actual temperature is only a question a newcomer would ask. Seasoned residents know that the average temperature clusters in a narrow range from 49 degrees winter to 59 degrees summer. For those that must know the temperature read on, others may skip to the next paragraph. Given that it is spring season and early AM pick a number near the bottom of that range and you’ll have the correct answer.

More about the weather. Overcast with a slight breeze blowing from the South foretelling the possibility of rain and the return arrival of Fog Dodger rap musician professor Bill Heffernan. However the biggest surprise to many was that Tom and Nancy were present. The strong Iowa wind blew them home early proving why Iowa is the wind energy producing capital of our nation. Iowa was the corn growing capital but with grass fed beef becoming more popular than corn fed corn stalks are yielding to towers of wind turbine.

The day began as everyone arrived at the starting point near the A&W logging road. So named because at one time there was an A&W located near the entrance to the road. Of course logging was never conducted by A&W but they did sell juicy burgers with Root Beer in ice cold glass mugs. The burgers were wrapped in foil and plastered with plenty of sauce to run down forearms and drip from elbows. Meanwhile runners continued gathering, greeting friends, chatting of recent current events, yawning, stretching, removing or adding clothing, and last minute lacing of shoes. As Tom Time neared 8:00 AM runners intuitively turned East, Horace Greeley not among us, and scurried like quail to the haul road.

Approaching the river runners encountered an abundance of flora and fauna. Wild radish and foxglove were in near peak bloom. A plethora of feathered friends too numerous to mention varying in size from the tiny Titmouse to the grand Osprey. A faint odor of stale mud mixed manure from cloven hoofed bovine wafted from the nearby pastures. Some runners felt a ripple effect when crossing the river. John Loomis spotted what appeared to be a lost abalone diver in the water.

Runners exited the river bottom and entered the xylem and phloem filled forest that leads to the dreaded never ending hill. The hill that can take a runner to their threshold of pain before reaching the summit. Runners now turning about at their chosen spot for the knee jarring downhill thrill to the end of one adventure and to the remainder of another beautiful day.

NEXT SUNDAY, MAY 23 @ 8 AM: NAVARRO RIDGE ROAD, beginning at the Whitesboro Grange Hall, 1 1/2 miles east of Hwy One. This location takes an extra 10 minutes for most of us but is worth it.

EVERY TUESDAY @ 7 AM: RUSSIAN GULCH STATE PARK, beginning on Point Cabrillo Drive, 1/10 of a mile north of its south end.

EVERY THURSDAY @ 7 AM: VAN DAMME STATE PARK, beginning at the beach.